For generations, the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen have delighted readers with their originality, whimsy, and humorous treatment of such human foibles as vanity, snobbery, and greed. This collection of thirteen of the author's most popular stories is no exception.In "The Little Mermaid," the youngest of six mermaid princesses falls in love with a human and longs to live an ordinary life. "Great Claus and Little Claus" tells of a clever young man who turns a series of misfortunes into a windfall. Andersen's masterpiece about self-discovery, "The Ugly Duckling," is accompanied by the magical "Red Shoes," "Thumbelina," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Princess and the Pea," "The Little Match Girl," "The Snow Queen," and four others.Among the most frequently translated works in literary history, these children's classics invite readers of all ages to enjoy and rediscover the pleasures of time-honored tales. Read Less